Besides its economic and social disruptions, COVID-19 appears to have shifted the perception about the importance and value of education at least partially off its foundation.
Of course, some foundation-rattling was already underway; the pandemic only intensified it. About one-third of students quit college before their sophomore year, with 40 percent of students dropping out each year. Plus, U.S. college enrollment is down nearly 1 million from its peak of 20.6 million in 2010. Financial pressure plays a significant role, but surveys and broad anecdotal evidence suggest the pandemic also exacerbated the emotional and social pressures bearing down on students.
